The War on Gallipoli.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 58, 6 November 1915, Page 5

The War on Gallipoli.

NOTES BY A RETURNED NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER. “JUST WHAT I DID.” (By C.S.K.) While the life of a soldier is not all beer and skittles, at the same - time it has its pleasant features, more especially when one is a soldier only for “three years or the duration,” as then one sees the better parts of the game and does not have too much of the deadly daily routine which must • get on to the nerves of the permanent soldier. In either case one has to take a sporting chance of getting killed, hut in the case of the three-year soldier the opportunity to get killed is presented to him earlier than is the case with the permanent man, who might live and die in the game without getting a chance to get killed—not that he minds. But, generally, the “duration” man is trained quickly, moved to the front as soon as possible and used in the tiring line without undue delay, as a result of which he can see what there is to see of the game" in a short space of time. New Zealand’s main body was fortunate- in (one respect, in being unemployed so llong in Egypt. Of course there is no ■ground for grumbling against the authorities—but tlie fates were unkind, and tlie New Zealanders had to do much hard training to keep them fit until affairs ripened and enabled them to be used at the front. The third reinforcements were more lucky, fl hey arrived in Egypt before the main body left for tlie front, and remained there doing daily training for about six weeks in all, just long enough to enable them to see around Cairo and to develop a distaste for the climate. The main body were fully equipped, and the men had a number of jokes founded on the supposed fact that the powers that be loaded them with all their gear .and sent them out marching over the desert every day merely in order to see how much marching it took to kill a man. The Thirds were not equipped until they leit for the front and were thus spared the ordeal of weight-carrying endurance trials. Within a week after the-departure of the main body, however, the Thirds were issued with gear and left by train for Alexandria, where they arrived by breakfast time on May Ist—the opening of the shooting (season, as a wit put it. They left that evening, and two days’ sail brought them to Lemnos, where a few days w ere spent —why remains the secret of those who were running the show. Then, in the twilight of one evening the transport moved out. She passed Cape Hellos during a heavy bombardment, and next morning was at anchor off Cuba ' Tepe, having arrived some time during the night. Here another wait took place, the boat being well out to sea. Some Australians were landed , here and the transport then returned to Cape Holies. We landed m the morning w ithout any suggestion of opposition. A big base is situated at this point, and everything was as peaceful as if the front were fifty miles away. We probably landed on • May Bth—as I kept no diary at the ' time I missed recording the date. Mo advanced quietly over the low bil fronting the sea and along the almost level ground following, the whole battalion being in extended order. Halt way to the trenches the force sat down all d had lunch, and not long afterwards the Otago Company occupied a ■ newly-made trench two hundred yards ■ behind the regular trench system. After being undisturbed f° r about two hours a Turk gun began to throw m . shrapnel which did hardly any dam- , acre. We advanced to the regular I trenches under cover of fire from our 0-uns, which completely silenced the opposition. Thereafter we dodged about among the backmost trenches for a few davs, and then retired to a ' rest camp near the Cape, where the reinforcements were drafted m with the main body. A further few days 1 were spent in navvy work and then ' the whole New Zealand force was despatched to Gaba Tepe. More navvy ■ work followed here for a tune and then, early in June, the Otago Battalion was sent forward to the firing U„e. They patiently occupied the trenches for a term, with few casual- ■ ties and then went out for their term : of rest, a little back from the hnng ■ line While this spell was still going > on 1 developed decided signs of uu- - wellness, and finally, on July 4th, was i packed off to Lemnos. A month m • hospital there, another month by the - sea near Alexandria, a week at Zei- - tonn, and a trip home to New Zealand ■ roughly summarises my connection » with the war on the Gallipoli 1 cmn- , sll ] a . In future articles 1 intend to , give my impressions of things I > i but readers need not look loi v °i > : much news about tlie war. Tlie poor but honest private is not taken in o , confidence by the powers that be and , T was not given the privilege of taking part in any operations. Therefore, it • would be safest if readers were to look ’ merely for impressions such as one ’ might expect from one who has made a picnic trip to the blood-stained 1 eninsula.